Casting reel



1956 P. A. SKELTON ETAL 2,736,510

CASTING REEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2 1953 illi/I,

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Peter A. S/re/fon John B. Poepp/ng INVENTORS BY WW 15m United States Patent CASTING Peter A. Skelton and John B. Poepping, Missoula, Mona, said Poepping assignor to said Shelton Application April 2, 1953, Serial No. 346,404

6 Claims. (Cl. 242- 845) This invention relates to casting reels and pertains more particularly to an improved form of casting reel which operates in a more eflicient and effective manner.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a casting" reel incorporating an improved design which obviates the snarling or back lash of fish lines during the casting operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a casting reel of improved design which utilizes a stationary drurn upon which fish line is wound.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved casting reel incorporating a stationary reel from which fish line is expressed longitudinally.

A further object of this invention is to provide a casting reel assembly which includes a novel winding mechanism effective in one direction of rotation to coil or wind fish line on the assembly which releases the line the other direction of rotation.

Still another object of this invention is to eliminate inertia effects in the reel assembly which tend to induce back-lash and snarling of the fish line during casting operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved drive mechanism for casting reels. 7 Another object of this invention is to provide an improved casting reel drive mechanism which includes a lost motion connection between the drive shaft and the winding wheel, which connection effects winding en- 'gagement or disengagement of the fish line, depending upon the direction of rotation of the assembly.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved form of casting reel which is of compact and economical and yet extremely effective design.

,These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which: Figure l is a side elevational of the casting reel mounted for use on a casting rod, the casting rod being shown in dotted lines;- I

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the novel casting reel showing the opposite end covers disposed in exploded relation thereto;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken substantia'lly along the plane of section line 3'3' of Fig. 2 showing a pprtiori of the drive mechanism;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectiontaken substantially along the plane of section 45 4 of Figure 2 and showing the relationship of parts during the winding operation Figure 5 is another transverse. vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 5 5 of Figure 2 showing the lost hidden connection in the drive 2,736,510 Patented Feb. 28, 1956 mechanism and further showing such drive mechanism in operative position; and

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section similar to Figure 5 but showing the relationship of parts of the assembly during inoperative position or during the casting position.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, reference numeral 10 designates generally the casing of the casting reel assembly which is mounted adjacent the handle of the conventional casting rod shown in dotted lines, such mounting being entirely conventional and utilizing the well known flanges 12, one engaged in a recessin the rod and the other engageable in a sleeve 14 slidable on the rod. The reel assembly includes a main center section 16, a rear cover 18 and a forward section 20 of general frustoconical configuration provided at its free end with a guide bushing 22 through which fish line 24 is expressed longitudinally of the reel assembly. I

As seen in Figure 2, the center section is externally threaded at its opposite ends to remove and receive the internally threaded portions of the front and rear sections, and adjacent the forward end of the center section is a transverse partition member 26 providing an end flange for a stationary drum 28 projecting forwardly therefrom, the member 30 constituting the other end flange of th'e drum assembly. The drum assembly is, of course, the vehicle for receiving fish line in wound relation thereon, drive mechanism being provided for so disposing the line. This mechanism consists essentially of a winding wheel 32 having a center hub 34 journaled concentrically within the drum 28, the latter having a longitudinal bore for this purpose. Bushings 36 and 38 are provided within the drum bore to journal the hub 34 and act as thmstand bearing members. Bushing 38 projects forwardly of the front face of end flange 30 and spaces the center portion 40 of a Winding wheel therefrom. Peripherally formed on the wheel is an enlarged rim 42 which overlies the end flange 30 rearwardly of the center portion 40 and which also extends forwardly of this portion, this latter rim section being provided with a pair of diametrically opposed apertures 44 through which the outer free end of pickup fingers 46 are projectible. These fingers are disposed radially of the Wheel and are provided adjacent their inner ends with longitudinally elongated slots 48 see especially Figure 5, the fingers are slidably secured to the wheel through stop screws 50. In this respect, it willbe noted that the fingers are slidable by virtue of their pin and slot connections betweena position as shown in Figure 6, wherein their free ends are substantially flush with or below the circumferential surface of the wheel rim and a position such as that shown in Figure 5 wherein their free ends are projected beyond the rim to a point closely adjacent the inner surface of an annular groove 51 in the forward casing section 20.

The wheel hub is in reality, a quill shaft journaling therein a drive shaft 52 terminating at its forward end in a shoulder 54 which is engaged against the outer surface of the wheel and which carries at its rearward end a bevel gear 56, which gear is slightly spaced from the recessed medial portion of the end flange 26 by virtue of its engagement with the bushing 36. Thus, itwill be seen that the gear and shoulder serve to maintain the drum and drive wheel assembly in proper position.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 5 and 6, it will be seen that shoulder 54 is provided with diametrically opposed, radially disposed pivot bolts 58 which pivotally secure one end of the levers 60 thereto, the other ends of the levers being pivotally connected to the pick up fingers at approximately the center of the latter. A tension spring 62' is connected at its opposite ends to respective levers and normally urges them to the positibn shown in Figure 6, wherein the pick up fingers are 3 in retracted position. Due to the eccentricity of the pin 58 with respect to the axis of the drive shaft, upon rotation of the latter in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5, the levers will project the fingers outwardly of the windin g wheel until the ends of elongated slot 48 engage against stop pin 50. Continued rotation of the drive shaft will cause a corresponding rotation to the winding wheel and the pick up finger, being circumferentially grooved as at 64, will engage with the fish line and carry the same to wind the line upon drum 48. The drum is recessed, as at 66, and provided with a spring urged ball 68 acting as a brake to maintain a slight drag on the winding wheel at any time it is rotated so as to insure that the pick up fingers will be properly projected during the such rotation even if the drag on the fish line were not sufficient to effect the lost motion necessary to project the fingers.

When the line is cast, it will simply describe an unraveling or unwinding motion and be expressed longitudinally of the assembly and, since there is norotating reel to impart inertia forces to the assembly during such casting, there will be no tendency for back-lash and consequent snarling of the line to occur. Of course, the winding wheel will refrain stationary during casting, the fingers being retracted, and under no circumstances can such fingers be projected during the casting operation.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, it will be seen that the rearward portions of the center casing sec tion 16 is provided with a radial bore rotatably receiving a crank shaft 70 whose free end is provided with a hand crank 72 and whose inner end 74 is of reduced diameter and is received in and L-shaped bracket 76 secured and projecting from the rear face of the partition 26. The end of the shaft is threaded to receive a manually rotated nut 78 engaging against an arch leaf spring 86, the spring cooperating with a series of washers 82, 84, 86, engaging on opposite sides of beveled gear 88 which is, in turn, rotatably received on the shaft portion 74. In this manner, there is provided an overload relief in the drive mechanism that may be selectively varied as to tension simply by removing the rear cover 18 and operating the nut 78. This will prevent breakage of the fish line when the proper tension for the particular line used is maintained by the overload release assembly, should the user play a hooked fish too strenuously.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A casting reel comprising a stationary spool having a central line receiving drum portion having a pair of spaced flange portions secured at opposite ends thereof, a longitudinal bore extending through said drum, a winding wheel having a central outwardly extending tubular hub journaled within the bore of said drum for rotation therein, the winding wheel including a circumferentially disposed rim overlying the periphery of one of the flange portions of the drum in one direction and extending away from the winding wheel in an opposite direction, an aperture portion in the latter portion of the winding wheel rim, an elongated pickup finger element adjacent one side of the winding wheel and having an end portion extendable through the aperture portion in said rim for engaging a line and winding the same upon the drum of the spool due to rotation of the winding wheel, said finger ele ment including an elongated longitudinal slot portion therein, a retaining pin extending from the winding wheel and reciprocably retaining the finger element on said wheel, a drive shaft extending through the tubular hub of the winding wheel, one end of said drive shaft including a shoulder portion extending adjacent the Side of the winddriving shaft, rotation of the drive shaft in a direction for winding the line upon the drum resulting in positioning of the pivot pin on the shoulder of the drive shaft radially away from the axis of rotation of said drive shaft to over come the tension spring and urge the pickup finger into a line engaging position.

2. A casting reel as set forth in claim 1 including drag means extending between the one flange of the drum and said winding wheel, whereby projection of the pickup finger through the aperture portion of the rim of the winding wheel is insured by a lost motion on the winding wheel caused by said drag means.

3. A winding wheel as set forth in claim 2 wherein said drag means comprises a spring urged ball element extending between the one flange and the winding wheel.

4. A casting reel as set forth in claim. 1 wherein the drive shaft includes an end portion extending out of the other of said flanges of the drum, a driven gear element secured on the second end portion of said drive shaft, a driving gear and driving shaft operatively connected to said driven gear and adjustable overload tension relief means operatively connected between said driving shaft and gears for preventing excessive tension on the fish line while a fish is being played.

5. A casting reel as set forth in claim 4 wherein said driven gear element comprises a bevel gear, the driving gear comprises a bevel gear in peripheral driving engagement with said driven gear, the driving shaft includes a reduced diameter end portion extending through the driving gear, forming a shoulder portion on said driving shaft; and the tension relief means includes washer elements circumposed on the reduced diameter portion of the driving shaft on opposite sides of the driving gear, a leaf spring element circumposed on the reduced diameter portion of the driving shaft and having end portions engaged with a washer element on one side of the driving gear, and an adjusting nut threadedly carried on said driving shaft in engagement with the leaf spring element for adjustably providing a friction drive connection between the driving shaft and driving gear.

6. A casting reel comprising a stationary spool having a central line receiving drum portion having a pair of spaced flange portions secured at opposite ends thereof, a longitudinal bore extending through said drum, a winding wheel having a central outwardly extending tubular hub journaled within the bore of said drum for rotation therein, the Winding wheel including a circumferentially disposed peripheral rim overlying the periphery of one of the flanges of the drum in one direction and extending away from the winding wheel in an opposite direction, a pair of diametrically disposed aperture portions in the latter portion of the rim of the winding wheel, elongated pickup finger elements adjacent one side of the winding wheel and having an end portion extendable through a diametrically opposed aperture portion in said rim for engaging a line and winding the same upon the drum of the spool due to rotation of the winding wheel, said finger elements including an elongated longtiudinal slot portion therein, a retaining pin extending from the winding wheel and reciprocably retaining the finger elements on said wheel, a drive shaft extending through the tubular hub of the winding wheel, one end of said drive shaft including a shoulder portion extending adjacent the side of the winding wheel upon which the pickup fingers are located, a pair of pivot pins on said shoulder of the driving shaft and extending diametrically in radially offset parallel rclationship to said drive shaft, lever elements pivotally con- References Cited in the file of this patent nected at one end to said pivot pins the other end of which UNITED STATES PATENTS being pivotally connected to a pivot pin secured to an intermediate portion of said pickup fingers, a tension 2 521 543 Sh k 1 1 S t 5, 1950 spring operatively connected between said pickup fingers 5 2, 02 02 Vijande July 1952, urging the ends of the finger elements out of a line en- 2 30 979 U li M 10, 1953 gaging position through the aperture portions in the rim 2, 44, 43 G i July 7, 1953 of the winding wheel, rotation of the drive shaft in a di- 2,675 192 11 A 13, 1954 rection for Winding the line upon the drum resulting in positioning the pivot pins on the shoulder of the drive 10 FOREIGN PATENTS shaft radially away from the axis of rotation of said drive shaft to overcome the tension spring and urge the pickup 22,597 Great Britain Of 1907 fingers into a line engaging position. 

